Participants in the first African American Child Welfare Summit, held in June 1995, identified nine specific community-focused principles essential to modifying the flow of African American children into out-of-home care: (1) active participation of the African American community in the larger community; (2) inclusion of African American children and families in a spiritually based, economically thriving community; (3) families and communities with visible family agendas and adequate supports who actively rear their children; (4) development, enhancement and transmission of positive identities and values; (5) community-based and controlled service infrastructures, with strong church involvement; (6) families and children who embrace the traditional values of hard work, respect for elders, egalitarianism in relationships, role flexibility, oral traditions, and high achievement primarily through education; (7) community acceptance of diversity; (8) high levels of community and personal accountability; and (9) community support for responsible sexual reproduction and for freedom from alcohol, chemical, and drug dependency. Appendixes, references